War Memorial, The Square, Great Eccleston. PR3 0ZB
The War Memorial was donated by Wyre Memorials and Moon’s Funeral Services, and dedicated on 4th August 2014.
There are no names on the memorial, which remembers all those who have lost their lives in all conflicts
The fallen from Great Eccleston are also remembered at two churches: St. Anne’s, Copp, and St. Mary’s RC, Great Eccleston.
St. Anne’s Church, Copp
Inside the church is a memorial to the fallen of the parish from WW1
Those named on the memorial are:
Henry Arthur Austin
Private 25546. 8th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Henry was born in Bury, Lancashire in 1888, the son of Edwin and Elizabeth Ellen Austin.
He married Annie Crawshaw in Blackpool in 1913.
Henry died of wounds received in action on 14th Sept 1917. He was 29.
He is buried at Wimereux Communal Cemetery at Wimereux, France.
William Valiant Archer
Acting Bombardier 106192. 205th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
William was born in 1881 at Great Eccleston, the son of William Valiant and Margaret Archer.
He married his wife Winifred in 1901, and by 1911 they had 4 children, and were living at West End, Great Eccleston.
William was killed on 20th February 1918. He was 37.
He is buried at St. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France.
Thomas Bamber
Private 3014. 1st/5th Battalion King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
Thomas was born in Singleton, Lancashire in 1890, the son of Sarah and William Bamber.
He enlisted on the 28th October 1914.
Thomas died on 5th May 1915. He was 25.
He is one of the many men with no known grave, and is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
William Bamber
Private 36851. 1st/5th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Private 36851. 1st/5th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
William was born in 1894 at Inskip, Lancashire, the son of Jane Bamber.
He was taken Prisoner of War on 30th November 1917.
William died of phthisis on 31st July 1918. He was 24.
He is buried at Berlin South West Cemetery, Brandenburg, Germany.
William Critchley
Private 37238. 12th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
William was born at Weeton in 1888, the son of Robert and Ann Critchley.
He married his wife Elizabeth in 1910, and they lived at Croft Cottage, Elswick.
William was killed on 6th November 1917. He was 29.
He is buried at Beersheba War Cemetery in Palestine.
Edward Lakeland Williams Garlick
Private 34249. 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers
Edward was born on 3rd February 1896 at Walton-le-Dale, the son of William and Ann Garlick.
William and Ann were later to move to the Farmer’s Arms Hotel, Great Eccleston.
Edward was killed in action on 23rd April 1917. He was 21.
He is one of the many men with no known grave, and is remembered on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France.
John Wadddington Morton
Private 22135. 1st Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
John was born in January 1893 in Fulwood, the son of John James and Margaret Alice Morton.
He died on 17th October 1917. He was 24.
John is buried at Mont Huen Military Cemetery, Le Treport, France.
He is also remembered on his parent’s grave in the churchyard.
James Richardson
Gunner 79649. 250th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
James was born in 1891 in Great Eccleston, to Frank and Elizabeth Richardson.
He was the brother of Thomas Richardson who is also named on the memorial.
He was killed in action on the 4th November 1917. He was 27.
James is buried at Aeroplane Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Thomas Richardson
Private 23614. 10th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Thomas was born in 1897 in Great Eccleston, the son of Frank and Elizabeth Richardson.
He was the brother of James Richardson, who is also named on the memorial.
Thomas died on 13th October 1918. He was 21.
He is buried at Maubeuge Centre Cemetery, Maubeuge, France.
John Rowe MM
Sergeant 10136. 9th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
John was born in Roseacre, Lancashire in 1893, the son of Alice Rowe.
He joined the army a few years before war broke out.
John was taken prisoner of war in May 1918
He died from influenza on 18th October 191818/10/1918 in Lamsdorf prisoner of war camp in Germany. He was 26.
John is buried at Berlin South Western Cemetery, Berlin, Germany
He is also remembered on the War Memorials at Elswick United Reformed Church, St. Anne’s on Sea Parish Church, and on the War Memorial at Ashton Gardens, St. Anne’s on Sea.
John was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.
The citation states:
“During a counter-attack carried out by the battalion near Kemel at 3 am. on 26th April 1918 Sgt Rowe was acting CSM. When the attacking wave had become disorganised, he greatly assisted the company commander in reorganising the company, under heavy artillery and machine gun fire. His coolness and ability in handling the men was very marked, and he inspired great confidence in the men. Throughout the counter-attack he collected the men, and pushed forward, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.”
Frederick Sanderson
Private 10187. 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment
Frederick was born at Out Rawcliffe in 1895, the son of Richard and Elizabeth Sanderson.
The family later moved to Quaker’s Cottage at Great Eccleston.
Frederick died of wounds received in action on 3rd July 1916. He was 21.
He is one of the many men with no known grave, and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Roland Victor Shaw
Private 17649. 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers
Roland was born in Edmonton, London in 1897.
He enlisted on the 22nd March 1915 at Bolton.
He was killed during battles on the Somme on 22nd July 1916. He was 21.
Roland is one of the many men with no known grave. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Thomas Swarbrick
Private 203946. 24th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
Thomas was born in 1893 in Gt Eccleston. He married Lydia Dickinson in 1914, and they had two children.
He died on 26th October 1917. He was 22.
Thomas is one of many men with no known grave, and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium
Thomas Wilson
Private 16538. 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
Thomas was born in 1894 in Thistleton, the son of George and Mary Jane Wilson.
He died on 27th November 1917. He was 23.
Thomas is one of many men who have no known grave.
He is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France.
There is also a plaque in the church to commemorate all who served and survived WW1:
The WW2 Memorial
Those listed on the WW2 Memorial are:
Clifford Balderstone
Ordinary Telegraphist D/JX190451. Royal Navy. HMS Veteran
Clifford was born on the Fylde in 1919, the son of Robert and Hetty Balderstone of Elswick.
In 1939 the family were living at Copside, Elswick where Robert was a market gardener, and Clifford was a bank clerk.
On 21st September 1942, HMS Veteran was part of Convoy RB-1 left Liverpool bound for St. John’s, Newfoundland.
At 10.36 on 26th September 1942 the ship was hit by 2 torpedoes fired from German U Boat U-404, and sunk.
All 235 men on board were killed, including Clifford. He was 22.
Clifford has no known grave but the sea, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
William Bamber
Private 14502992. 1st BattalionThe Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
William was born in 1924 in Garstang district, the son of William and Elizabeth Bamber.
In 1939 the family were living at The Weind, Great Eccleston and William was employed as a cowman.
William died on 19th February 1944. He was 19.
He is buried at Anzio War Cemetery in Italy.
An inscription on his gravestone reads:
JESUS MERCY, MARY HELP. RIP
Jack Bradley
Ordinary Seaman C/JX300576. Royal Navy. HMS Anking
Jack was born in 1923, the son of George and Sarah E. Bradley.
In 1939 the family were living at Mulberry Cottage, Great Eccleston.
left Batavia on February 27th 1942, HMS Anking left Batavia, en route to Fremantle.
On March 3rd, she was intercepted by Japanese cruisers and sunk by gunfire about 200 miles east of Christmas Island. 260 men were killed, including Jack. He was 19.
Jack has no known grave but the sea and is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
John Roy Massey
Flight Sergeant 590895. Royal Air Force. 210 Squadron
John (named as Roy on the memorial) was born on 31st October 1917 in Anglesey, the son of John and Margaret Massey.
The family lived in Great Ecccleston, where John’s uncle Joseph was landlord of the Black Bull.
On 23rd May 1941, John was on board a Catalina aircraft AH560 from 210 Squadron which was flying a transit flight from Gibraltar to the UK.
The aircraft was lost over the sea, and all 9 crew including John were killed. He was 24.
John has no known grave but the sea, and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
Gerald Trickett Metcalfe
Corporal 10602579. 61st Regiment Reconnaissance Corps. Royal Armoured Corps.
Gerald was born in 1922, the son of Richard and Elsie Metcalfe.
In 1939 the family were living at The Fallows, Great Eccleston, where Richard was a joiner and undertaker.
On 3rd January 1945 a major offensive was launched against the Germans around Bure and Wavreille in the Ardennes. 61st Regiment were involved, along with the US 1st Army, 6th Airborne Division and Belgian SAS Reconnaissance Regiment.
The weather was very bad, heavy snow lay on the ground, and the temperature reached minus 20 degrees Centigrade.
Four members of the 61st were killed on 4th January 1945 during fierce fighting near Bure, including Gerald. He was 22.
He is buried at Hotton War Cemetery in Belgium.
An inscription on his gravestone reads:
OUR PRECIOUS DARLING
Thomas Park
Private 3387563. 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment
Thomas was born in Fleetwood in 1918, the son of Thomas Staveacre Park and Constance (nee Hartley).
He died 15 May 1940 and 31 May 1940. He was 22.
Thomas is buried at Heverlee War Cemetery in Belgium.
Vincent Swarbrick
Private 14206267. The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
Vincent was born in 1922, the son of Thomas and Jane Swarbrick of 66 High Street, Great Eccleston.
He died on 24th January 1944. He was 21.
Vincent is buried at Anzio War Cemetery in Italy.
An inscription on his gravestone reads:
JESUS MERCY, MARY HELP.
Richard Winstanley
Private 14550920. 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers, Monmouthshire Regiment.
Richard was born in 1924 in Great Eccleston the son of Richard Winstanley
& Jane Dagger. He was one of 9 children. The family later lived at Whinney Brow Farm at Forton.
Richard was killed in action on 14th April 1945 in Germany. He was 20.
He is buried in the Becklingen War Cemetery Germany.
He is also remembered on the war memorial at Forton.
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Great Eccleston
There are two memorials in the church – one for each of the two World Wars
The WW1 Memorial
Those named on the memorial are:
William Critchley
Private 37238. 12th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
William was born at Weeton in 1888, the son of Robert and Ann Critchley.
He married his wife Elizabeth in 1910, and they lived at Croft Cottage, Elswick.
William was killed on 6th November 1917. He was 29.
He is buried at Beersheba War Cemetery in Palestine.
Henry Dobson
Private 9654. 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment
Henry was born on 1st Jan 1892 in Catterall, the son of Robert and Anne Dobson .
He enlisted on 19th November 1907, and he was killed in action on 14th May 1915. He was 22.
Henry is one of many men with no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
Robert Helm
M/18769 Engine Room Artificer First Class. Royal Navy
Robert was born in 1891 at Great Eccleston, the son of Edward and Mary Helm of Leckonby Bank, Great Eccleston.
He was killed on 15th May 1917 aboard HMS Dartmouth. He was 26.
Robert has no known grave but the sea, and is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Thomas Jenkinson
Private 241224. 2nd/5th Battalion King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment
Thomas was born in 1891 at St. Michael’s on Wyre, the son of John and Alice Jenkinson.
He was gassed while in the trenches, and sent to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Estaires where he died from broncho-pneumonia on the 8th April 1917. He was 26.
Thomas is buried at Estaires Communal Cemetery Extension, near Armentieres, France.
He is also remembered on the WW1 memorial at St. Michael’s on Wyre.
James Richardson
Gunner 79649. 250th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
James was born in Great Eccleston in 1891, the son of Frank and Elizabeth Richardson of Raikes Road, Great Eccleston.
He was the brother of Thomas Richardson.
James was killed on 4th November 1917. He was 27.
He is buried at Aeroplane Cemetery near Ypres, Belgium.
Thomas Richardson
Private 23614. 10th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Thomas was born in 1897 in Great Eccleston, the son of Frank and Elizabeth Richardson.
He was the brother of James Richardson.
Thomas died on 13th October 1918. He was 21.
He is buried at Maubeuge Centre Cemetery, Maubeuge, France.
Michael Benson
Currently we have been unable to find any information about Michael. If you can help please contact us.
The WW2 Memorial
Those named on the WW2 memorial are:
Vincent Swarbrick – see information above for St. Anne’s Copp Memorial
William Bamber – see information above for St. Anne’s Copp Memorial
Richard Winstanley – see information above for St. Anne’s Copp Memorial